An excellent Akhlaq (character)  is a part of prophethood and establishing the same excellence in the Muslim community is included in the mission. If the excellence of the Prophet’s Akhlaq (character) is missing, and just the creed, religious duties and acts of worship are introduced to people, the noble mission of inviting people to Islam remains incomplete. Introducing the Touhid (Islamic monotheism) and the traditions of Islam in a well mannered way is the additional good that makes a huge difference.

Sana’ullah Amritsari was a noted scholar from Punjab, during early 20th century. Some of the scholars have said that Sana’ullah Amritsari had defended Islam against the British onslaught and was a source for saving the faith of many Muslims. He was well known for his debates and spontaneous candid answers. Once he was travelling by train. There was a group of Hindu Pandits travelling with him. During the journey,  one of the senior Pandits got his head hit by the rod on the upper berth, and he fell down from his seat. He lost his conscious and his head was bleeding. His juniors were afraid at the very sight of the blood and were reluctant to help the old man.

Sana’ullah Amritsari quickly got up and lifted the Pandit. He then sat on his seat and kept the head of the unconscious pandit on his lap. He then tore a part of his own turban and tied it on the wound of the Pandit. Few minutes later, the man got his conscious back and he saw a Muslim assissting him. He got up and thanked the Muslim Scholar profusely. Sana’ullah Amritsari brushed-off his gratitude and said, “No! It was a duty upon me bestowed by my Lord Allah.” It was gesture of performing duty instead of showing off.

The man was anxious to know what had Allah asked him to do. He replied by reciting a verse from Qur’an,

“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.”

(Surah Nisa' verse 36)

Sana’ullah Amritsari took the pandit as his companion at his side. The listeners were delighted to know that even co travellers sitting next to you are required to be shown excellent Akhlaq (character).

Helping or assisting someone in need is a trait of good Akhlaq (character) and is a part of the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ. Following the Prophet’s teachings or sunnah is highly commendable.

 Good character is a blessing that needs to be supplicated for

Imam Ahmed narrates an incident, “ Ummy Darda, wife of Abu Darda, (May Allah be pleased with both of them) says one night her husband woke up for midnight prayers. “I woke up and could not find him. I moved my hands around to locate him in the darkness, and I touched my husband’s heels, (so I understood) that he was prostrating. I was eased and went to bed. A long time passed and I got worried so I moved my hands around again and felt his heels and realised that he was still in prostration. I feared about him so I went closer to him and noticed him supplicating  in the prostration, “Allahumma kama ahsantu khalqi,  wa ah’sanu khulqi” ( O Allah! The way you have beautified my looks, beautify my  character too). Again a long time passed, and I noticed that my husband had still not returned to bed. So I went closer to him again. Abu Darda’s sobs could be heard very clearly while he was making the same dua, asking Allah to beautify his character. He remained in that position from midnight till  Fajr (dawn). My husband supplicated whole night asking only one thing , excellent Akhlaq (character).  When he was done, I asked him the reason behind his supplication. He replied, “You have not understood the value of excellent Akhlaq (character). If a person has excellent Akhlaq (character), even when he is sleeping in his bed, yet he can be qualified to be a candidate for paradise because of the supplications of his beneficiaries.”

Your good conduct should be extended to everyone, including non Muslims. From your parents, to your family, near and far relatives as well as everyone you meet.